StillwatersIowa

Week three of harvest came and went in spurts it seemed. There were long days. There was also down time toward the end of the week. It seems the variability of the crop has caused things to dry down slower than usual. Kudos to our crew for adapting to the ebb and flow of our progress. They displayed toughness and grit during the longer hours. They also showed a more tender side of mutual trust and friendship while spending those many hours together. Below Alex is watching his truck load. Thanks for the picture Karl. While driving semi I missed a couple of suppers in the field. A huge thank you to the gals for taking the time and effort out of their many responsibilities to cook and deliver a meal. We were able to have supper together on Kurt and Emily's deck earlier last week while combining corn there. Our part time helper big John continues to follow the combines after his day job and mow fencerow edges and waterways on completed fields. If you own a semi you will experience tire...

Last week we talked about a great song called "Hymn of Heaven". This morning I'd like to incorporate an equally exceptional song called "The Blessing". It was written as a benediction of blessing and guidance from the heart of the Father to us his children. The chorus reminds us that God is for us in our coming, and our going. In the times we're crying, and the times we're rejoicing. Dean is unloading BJ on the go on the farm where BJ, Cassia, and their family live. The song talks about God's favor being upon us for a thousand generations. Our families, our children, and our grandchildren. These are four of our eight granddaughters. Sydnie, Hazel, Allison, and Natalie. All blessings. They were all cheerleaders during halftime at the Pella Christian High football game Friday evening. Thanks for the picture. We had a second good week of harvest. I spent much of the week in a semi. Yield and moisture are still variable not only on different farms but ev...

Have you ever had a mystery photo show up? The picture has a few facts in it but you just don't know the story. This picture showed up recently. Maybe leftover in the bottom of a box. The gentleman kneeling in the grass or crop is Daryl. I recognize the location as the field we call the 62 acres now northwest of Rose Hill. The back of the photo showed it was taken professionally. And I'm guessing the time frame was late 50s or early 60s. Shortly after noon on January 22, 1963, JFK was assassinated. I remember where I was on that day. Sitting in second grade upstairs in the old Christian Grade School. When I heard young Mr. Blankenspoor come up the wide stairs, knock on our door, and tell us our president had been shot. Twenty one years ago today terrorists attacks were carried out against the United States. I remember where I was on that day. Jan had run to town to take the twins to school. I was getting grain bins ready for harvest. Becky called from Dordt College. The skies w...

On this Labor Day weekend summer is close to over. Harvest 2022 has started. I guessed we would be having a shorter crop this year and that is proving to be true. The crop is variable in stalk quality, test weight, moisture, and yield. Corn on corn will be more effected by our dry summer than the rotation acres. This will be Jan and my 48th crop. As I look back and remember both the big years and the short years, I'm confident our 2022 crop will be enough. Startups sometimes have their hic-ups. We found a corn leveling spreader had gotten tired. Thanks Kurt, Alex, and brother Bill for helping out. We had some endrows that had fertilizer and herbicides applied but no crop so on the 4th of July I planted a late batch of sweetcorn. Up until recently that corn received just two small rain showers. However it must have been enough. Thanks brother-in-law Roger and grandson Ezra for helping pick yesterday morning. It was not in Jan's original week's plan but she agreed to prepare ...